Automatic stage lift flowing device



March 27, 1934. A. B'oYNToN v AUTOMATIC STAGE LI1'.T. 1 FLOWING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14. 1932v @SCM am AAlexanderBayrftorl WMW Patented Mar. 27,` 1934 l UNITED STATES! AUTOMATIC STAGE LIFT FLoWING DEVICE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex., assigner to Chas. A. Beatty, San Antonio, Tex.

Application October 14,

12 Claims.

My invention relates to the flowing of liquid from wells by means .of pneumatic pressure exerted through either air or gas, or both in combination.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, efficient, durable and economical means for injecting the air or gas, either separately or in combination, into the tubing of the Well for the purpose of aerating the liquid therein, thereby acting to elongate the column of liquid inthe tubing in order to cause the liquid to ow over the upper end of the tubing and out of the well.

I contemplate the employment of a plurality of devices arranged at stages along the length of the string of tubing, thesedevices acting to take the place of couplings at desired intervals in the tubing, as many of said devices being employed as is desired, considering the depth of the well.

I desire to provide an effective. device which will be particularly sensitive to fluid pressures where- A by the entrance of pressure fluid to the tubing may be accurately controlled.

I contemplate the employment of a valve clos-l ing the opening to the tubing for the pressure iluid, said valve being operated to move by fluid pressure exerted against a diaphragm, either single or multiple.

The invention further consists in the particular construction of the device and its means of mounting in the housing, all of which will more clearly appear from the drawing and specification which follow.

In Fig. l of the drawingis shown a central longitudinal section through a housing conforming to my invention and showing therein a valve automatically operating through fluid pressure in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another type of diaphragm controlled valve.

Fig. 3 is a broken side view of a set or series of assembled devices shown in position in a well casing.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a different embodiment of the control diaphragm and housing. I

In carrying out my invention I contemplate installing a iiow tubing 1 within a well equipped with an outer casing 2. Said casing has the usual casing head equipment 3 having lateral inlets as shown at 4 for air, gas, or the like. The tubingV 1 is extended upwardly through a stung box 5 and is adapted to discharge the fluid from the well through the outlet pipe 6. A seal is made between the casing head 3 and the flow tubing to provide against the escape of air or gas forced 1932, Serial No. 637,709

(Cl. 10S-232) into the casing in the operation of my device. It is to be understood that where gas under suflicient pressure'is produced in the well, that it is possible to close the inlet pipe 4 and to operate on the well pressures therein existing. Atthe lower end of the tubing I have shown an intake funnel shaped opening 7 through which the liquid may enter the tubing.

At intervals along the length of the tubing I contemplate placing housings 8 which serve also to connect the adjacent sections of the tubing together. I have shown these housings evenly spaced along the tubing, although they may be unevenly spaced, and in fact only a very small number need be employed, depending upon'the conditions to be found in the well.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a simple form of inlet valve embodying my inventive idea. The housing 8 is formed at its ends 9 to' connect with the sections of tubing 1. It has upper and lower lateral projections 10 which -act as guides to protect the inlet from contact with the casing.

Between said projections or guides 10 is the inlet opening 11 in the side of the housing. This inlet opening has a lateral nipple 12 which is threaded to receive' a cap member 13. Said cap closes the opening 11, except for a threaded opening to receive the valve seat member 14 and the valve seat lock nut 15.

Said valve seat member 16 is a cylindrical plug threaded on its outer surface' to engage within the opening in the cap and having a central pas-.- sage therethrough formed on its inner side into a valve seat 16 to receive the valve member 17. The inner end adjacent the seat is slotted dia-l metrically to allow passage of air. Outside the valve seat member` is the valve seat lock nut which has a central port or opening 18 to allow the inlet of pressure fluid to the tubing.

The valve member 17 .is mounted upon, but may or may not be attached to a diaphragm 19 which in turn is mounted upon the diaphragm holder 20. Said holder is cylindrical in shape having on its outer periphery an annular notch 21 into which the margin of the daphragm 19 is crimped I 1,952,53If,

and secured by a bond of soldering or welding the chamber. Said holder is held in position by a short post 23 formed on the inner end and adapted to engage on a threaded opening on a bar or spider 24 extending diametrically across the inner port or opening 11.

In the operation of this embodimentof the inventon, the gas or air under pressure may be accumulated in the interior of the casing 2 and will tend to depress the liquid in the space 25 between the casing and the tubing. This will force the level of liquid in the tubing upwardly so that the weight .of liquid in the tubing will be such as to balance the pressure of air or gas in the casing. If one of the housings 8 is placed in the tubing at a point where it may be operated at previously determined pressure, the valve will unseat at that pressure and allow the pressure fluid to enter the tubing and aerate the column of liquid above the housing. Thus, if 300 pounds pressure of air or gas is exerted in the casing and the valve is adapted to unseat at 250 pounds pressure, one such valve placed adjacent the lower end of the upstanding liquid column in the tubing will be operated to open and allow the entrance of pressure fluid to the tubing.

The valve will be unseated through the pressure exerted in the tubing upon the diaphragm 19. Thus, when the pressure reaches the predetermined value the diaphragm will be depressed suiciently to unseat the valve 1'? and open the port to the entrance of the pressure fluid and will thus remain unseated as long as the fluid pressure remains at square inch.

Fig. 4 illustrates a different embodiment of the control device within the port l1. The holder 20' for the diaphragm 19 has a central recess 50 to receive a spring 51 which supports a rider 52 having a concaved outer end 53 bearing against the inner side of the diaphragm and tending to hold it distended toretain the valve in closed position; There is a concaved washer or ring 54 f1tted within a counter sunk seat in the body of the holder 20' which is adapted, when the diaphragm is depressed to correspond with the curvature of the outer end 53 of the rider and supportthe diaphragm. The interior may also have a cushion of air therein, and an inlet for air is provided through a port 55 leading to an annular recess 56 in the holder. The outer end of this recess may be plugged and sealed when the proper pressure of air is obtained within the interior of the holder and beneath the diaphragm.

This structure works approximately like that shown in Fig. 2, the spring 51 acting to resilient- 1y support the diaphragm and assist the air cushion in holding the valve resiliently in closed position. Y

In Fig. 1 a different embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The housing 8 is somewhat elongated and has noguides 10 formed thereon. It is adapted to connect with the tubing as in case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. Within the housing or case 8' I provide a cylindrical bellows housing 26 of a diameter materially smaller than that of the case 8. This bellows housing has an upward extension 27 at its upper end, said extension having a lateral 'projection 28 thereon Ato fit within an opening in the side of the case 8. This projection is tapered outwardly kto form a space surrounding the same to receive a bond 29 of solder or welding material or above 250 pounds per by means of which it is secured rigidly in position. A similar lateral -projection 28 is -formed at the, lower end fitting also within an opening in the case 8' and held in position by a bond of solder or welding material 29.

The upper extension 27 has an angular passage 30 therein, the horizontal branch of which extends axially of the projection 28. The outer end is threaded to receive the intake bushing 3l. Said bushing has an inlet port therein, fiared at both ends and of the proper gauge to allow the entrance of pressure fluid at the desired rate. The inner end of the passage 30 is extended downwardly and a valve seat is formed at 32 to receive the tapered upper end of the valve 33.

The valve 33 is formed upon a stem which is slidable through an opening 34 in the upper wall of the cylindrical chamber 35. This chamber houses the extensible diaphragm 36. This diaphragm is of multiple form and of a general bellows shape. I have shown the same as formed with corrugations therein, said corrugations being in fact a single spiral corrugation extending from the upper to the lower end of the diaphragm. The corrugation is shown as spiral, but it is to be understood that these corrugations may be ring-shaped or circular instead of spiral,

both forms being contemplated in the use of my device. The bellows member is shown as formed of two flexible walls of metal. This wall may be of a single sheet of corrugated metal or may be three-ply if desired, the number of layers of metal depending upon the strength and degree of flexibility desired in the device.

The upper end of the bellows member is connected with the valve by means of a valve connecting member 37. This member is ringshaped and has a downwardly extending marginal ange 38 into which the end of the bellows member is fitted and secured thereto by means ofsolder or welding material so as to form a fluid tight engagement. The interior of the connecting member is threaded to engage with the lower threaded end 39 upon the valve stem. Said stem is formed with a radial ange 40, adjacent the threaded portion, which overlaps the end of the connecting ring 37 and to which it may be connected by a bond of solder 4l. The inner end of the threaded portion of the valve stem is reduced in diameter and extended downwardly at 42 to form a connection over which the upper end of a guide sleeve which is pressed onto the same within the bellows member. This extension is formed with an axial channel 44 which is extended laterally at its upper end to terminate outside of the valve member and the valve stem, and to form a vent for fluid within the bellows. The purpose of this vent will be later described.

The bellows extends the length of the cylindrical housing 26 and is connected at its lower end to the bottom end connection 45. This connection is a plug-shaped closure for the housing and has its lower end tapered downwardly to give a stream line shape to the housing during theoperation of the device. The upper end of this closure is formed with a recess to receive the lower end of the bellows member which is connected thereto byva bond of solder or welding material 46.`

Within the bellows member I prefer to place a spring 47 which is fitted at its lower end within a shallow recess in the closure member and is of slightly greater lengththan is the bellows member. This spring is under tension and tends to hold the bellowsmember elongated.

bellows member by a lower guide post 48 securedA with a pressed t in the upper end of the closure member and projects upwardly in the housing, said post telescoping within the sleeve 43, The connection between the post and sleeve is a telescoping one which allows the bellows membe to expand and contract, but also holds the spring therein in a central position out'of contact'with the walls of the bellows and at the same time maintains constant true alignment of bellows, guide and spring. 'I'here is a lateral screened` opening 49 in the wall of the housing which allows the entrance of pressure fluid, 4but at the same time acts as a screen to prevent the entrance of abrasive material or other foreign substances which may interfere with the operation thereof.

In assembling the device for operation, the bellows is rst secured in position by 'soldering or welding in the lower closure member 45, and at its ,upper end is similarly connected with the connecting member 37. The guide members and the spring are then placed in telescopingl position. The interior is then filled with a noncorrosive liquid such as glycerine. The valve 'stem is then screwed in place and the bellowsshaped diaphragm `is compressed longitudinally to the maximumextent to which it is desired to as previously noted. The escape of further iiuid' from the bellows member will .be thus prevented. The device may then be assembled upwardly in the housing and adjusted vertically by means of plug 45 so thatthe valve will fit within the seat 32 andbe held in closed position with the amount of pressure previously determined. Space is provided in chamber 35 above the multiple dia-y phragm, so that it may be again adjusted upwardly when wear in the valve 33 or seat 32 becomes excessive, to assure the proper positioning of the Valve in the seat.

In operation, the air or gas from outside the tubing will exert a pressure on the liquid to raise it upwardly in the tubing. When the'pressure has reached the proper value adjacent the inlet port, the pressure upon the diaphragm will contract the same longitudinally, and as the lower end of the diaphragm is held rigid the upper end will be moved downwardly, withdrawing the valve from the seat 32 and allowing the entrance of the pressure fluid to the liquid within the tubing. The liquid will thus be aerated and extended upwardly in the tubing to overflow at the upper end thereof. It will be seen that the diaphragm will be sensitive to the action of the pressure fluid thereon and will` move the valve in accordance with the pressures encountered. Sufficient increase in pressure outside of the tubing will uncover other openings lower down, and so on until enough of these openings have been uncovered toproducethe desired aeration of the liquid. It is obvious that the closer together the inlet devices are spaced, the less increased pressure will be required to uncover succeeding devices in the lower section of the upstanding column.

sure.

Due to the construction of my device and the use of a liquid within the bellows, the bellows will be prevented from collapsing beyond a predetermined degree. The liquid being noncompressible, will resist external pressures after the desired amount of contraction has been obtained.

The spring 47 should always be strong enough to return'the bellows far enough to provide for the necessary travel to meet the workingcondition underl which the bellows is to operate. For relatively low working pressures a comparatively weak spring should be used; and for relatively high workingpressures a comparatively strong spring should be used. The only limitation is that the force required 'to compress the spring must not be greater than the external force that would rupture the bellows. But since a bellows having a wall thickness of .008" with no liquid inside, and containing a spring that required 250 pounds to compress 1", has been tested with external hydraulic pressure up to 5000 pounds per square inch without damage, it appears that the above limitation is more theoretical than practical.

The maximum compression travel of a bellows, unless sooner arrested by the liquid ller, is always the sum of the distances between the internal walls of the several corrugations, these distances being measured on a line parallel tothe lengthwise center line of the bellows, and at such distance from said centerl line as will intersect each corrugation where the opposing walls would first touch if compressed by external pres- This maximum compression travel of a bellows such as shown is approximatelyo per cent of its free length. The usual working travel of such a bellows is much less than 30 per cent of its free length, and depends upon the pressures to which it is exposed, the force required to compress the spring, and the length of the air pocket above the liquid ller. A maximum working travel of slightly more or less than .one inch will be found very satisfactory for the purposes of this invention.

In the use of my device, it, will beapparent that the well may be flowed without the necessity of extremelyv high pressures. In deep wells, without the use of a device such as is shown herein, it is necessary to exert a pressure upon the column of liquid in the casing sufficient to depress the level outside the tubing to the inlet openings adjacent the lower end thereof, which necessitates extremely high pressures, but by the use of flowing devicessuch as are herein disclosed, the flowing f of the column of liquid from the tubing may be accomplished by reasonably low pressure which may be easily obtained by ordinary compressors now in use. I have thus provided a simple, durable and economical device which will effectively operate under all conditions and will endure for long periods of time.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1..A valve-operating device of the character described comprising: a housing, a bellows shaped diaphragm therein, a valve on said diaphragm, means to admit liquid pressure to said diaphragm to compress the same and to move said valve when said pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum,

and means housed in said diaphragm to limit the diaphragm, and means to admit uid pressure to said diaphragm to compress the same and to move said Valve when said pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum.

3. A well casing, a tubing therein, a tubular case connected in said tubing, a housing in the case having an inlet passage through said case, a valve in said passage, a multiple diaphragm member anchored at one end in said housing, a Valve upon the other end thereof normally tting within said passage, means in said diaphragm holding the valve normally closed, means to admit liquid to said housing, said diaphragm being compressible by a predetermined liquid pressure in said tubing to move said valve and open said passage.

4. A Well casing, a tubing therein, a tubular case connected in said tubing, a housing in the case having an inlet passage through said case, a valve in said passage, a multiple diaphragm member anchored at one end in said housing, a valve upon the other end thereof normally tting within said passage, means in saidY diaphragm holding the valve normally closed, means to admit liquid to said housing, a guide for said valve in said housing, said diaphragm being compressible by a predetermined liquid pressure to move said valve and open said passage and admit gaseous fluid thereto.

5. A well casing, a tubing therein, a tubular case connected in said tubing, a housing in the case having an inlet passage through said case, a valve in said passage, a multiple diaphragm member anchored at one end in said housing, a valve upon the other end thereof normally tting within said passage, said diaphragm being of bellows shape, a spring within said diaphragm tending to hold said diaphragm extendedto close said valve, said diaphragm being compressibleA by a predetermined liquid pressure in said tubing to move said valve and open said passage and allow the entrance of gaseous uid.

6. A ow tubing, a housing therein, means to secure said housing in position, a uid passage from the outside of said tubing, a valve in said housing normally closing said passage, a bellowsshaped diaphragm in said housing secured to said valve, said diaphragm being sealed at its ends to enclose a iiuid tight chamber, and a liquid in said chamber nearly filling the same to resist external pressures, said diaphragm being longitudinally compressible by uid pressure to open said valve, said housing having uid openings therein.

7. A ow tubing, a housing therein, means to secure said housing in position, a fluid passage from the outside of said tubing, a valve in said housing normally closing said passage, a bellowsshaped diaphragm in said housing secured to said Valve, said diaphragm being sealed atits ends to enclose a uid tight chamber, a spring in said chamber tending to extend said diaphragm, a guide for said spring, and a liquid in said chamber nearly lling the same to resist external pressures, said diaphragm being longitudinally compressible by fluid pressure to open said valve, said housing having iluid openings therein.

8. A ow tubing. a housing therein, means to secure said housing in position, a uid passage from the outside of said tubing, a valve in said housing normally closing said passage, a bellowsshaped diaphragm in said housing secured to said valve, said diaphragm being sealed at its ends to enclose a iiuid tight chamber, means to hold said diaphragm normally extended-including a spring, a guide tube for said spring, means to center said tube insaid bellows, and a liquid in said chamber nearly filling the same to resist external pressures, means to admit uid to said housing, said diaphragm being longitudinally compressible by fluid pressureto open ,said valve.

9. A ilow tubing for wells, a cylindrical housing of comparatively small diameter therein, upper and lower projections on said housing extending through said tubing and anchored thereto, an inlet passage in said upper projection having an extension, a diaphragmin said housing, a valve on the upper end of said diaphragm extending into said extension to close said passage, means to admit fluid to said housing, said diaphragm being compressible longitudinally by a predetermined fluid pressure to move said valve, and means to resist said movement.

l0. A iow tubing for wells, a cylindrical hous- 'ing of comparatively small diameter therein, up-

per and lower projections on. said housing extending through said tubing and anchored thereto, an inlet passage in said upper projection having an extension, a diaphragm in said housing, a valve on the upper end of said diaphragm extending into said extension to close said passage, means to admit fluid to said' housing, said diaphragm being compressible longitudinally by a predetermined uid pressure to move said valve,` liquid means in said diaphragm to prevent collapse of the Walls of said diaphragm beyond a'v predetermined amount, and means to resist said movement.

11. A valve operating device of the character described comprising: a housing, a bellows shaped diaphragm therein, a spring tending to elongate said diaphragm one end of said diaphragm being 121) ixed, a valve mounted on the free end of said diaphragm, and means to admit a head of liquid into contact with said diaphragm to compress the sare and to move said valve to open position when said pressure on said diaphragm exceeds 125 a predetermined maximum.

12. A valveoperated device of the character described comprising: an eduction tube, a housing therein, a multiple diaphragm in said housing,

a valve on said diaphragm, means to admit fluid pressure in said tube to contact the exterior of said diaphragm to compress the same and to move said valve to open position when said pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum, means to limit the compression of said diaphragm and means within said diaphragm to extend the same to close said valve when said fluid pressure is relieved.

. ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

